Reggie Golden has been added to the Kane County roster and made his season debut last night. The stat line (0 for 3, 2K, 1BB) is almost beside the point. The important part is that Golden is back in action.
The Cubs took Golden in the second round in 2010, but he only appeared in four games that summer. In 2011 he made it into 64 games with the short season Boise team; that remains his high water mark. Thanks to a season-ending injury, he played in only seven games for Peoria last fall. We are coming up on the third anniversary of his being drafted and he just now played his 76th professional game. That’s not a great way to start a career.
Golden is a potential five tool outfielder who could, once he gets some regular experience, shoot up the Cubs prospect rankings in a hurry. In terms of talent he trails only Almora and Soler among outfield prospects in the organization. He has organizational Top 10 potential, even in this organization. If he can stay healthy.
If he can, Kane County fans will get to enjoy the best outfield tandem in the farm system (at least for now). If you did not already have enough reasons to watch this team play, now you have one more.
Scores From Yesterday
Iowa – The Cubs had a chance to take the lead in the 9th, but they couldn’t get it done. They lost 4-3. Tennessee – Tennessee had a decent game, but Birmingham played a better one. The Smokies lost 6-3. Daytona – Two Cub pitchers combined on a shutout in this 3-0 win. Kane County – It took nine innings for the Cougars to get on the board, but it wasn’t enough. They lost 2-1.
Performances of Note
[Iowa] If Nick Struck doesn’t make it as a pitcher, he might want to give hitting a try. He doubled in yesterday’s game and is hitting .250 on the season.
[Iowa] Casey Coleman came in to relieve Struck and tossed three hitless innings. He walked two and struck out two.
[Tennessee] Arismendy Alcantara had a three hit game that featured his first triple of the season. Over his last ten games he has an OPS of 1.256 with 5 BB and 3 HR. And only 7 K. Hard to argue with numbers like that.
[Tennessee] There have been questions about Christian Villanueva‘s bat, but his month of May suggests he might be just fine. After his double on Wednesday he is hitting .298/.356/.500 for the month.
[Daytona] Zeke DeVoss and John Andreoli both had two hit at the top of the Daytona lineup. Andreoli’s day included a double.
[Daytona] Zach Cates tossed six shut out innings, allowing just five hits while walking one and striking out five. Yao-Lin Wang struck out five more over the final three to complete the shut out.
[Kane County] Marco Hernandez singled twice and scored in the ninth. Carlos Escobar also had two hits. That was the offense in this one.
[Kane County] Although Gioskar Amaya did walk twice. That’s his second straight multi-walk game.
[Kane County] In 5.2 innings Pierce Johnson struck out 7 and allowed a single tally on a solo home run.
Other News
Almora and Golden are the best outfield tandem in the farm system, but it may not be by much. A strong case can be made in favor of John Andreoli and Jorge Soler. If Jae-Hoon Ha were healthy, he and Matt Szczur would be in the conversation. The duo of Brett Jackson and Brian Bogusevic are knocked down a peg by Bogusevic’s minor league veteran status, but it is hard to argue with the production out of that pair. The best outfield pair in recent years, though, goes without any argument to the brief appearance of Soler and Almora on the same field in the Arizona Rookie League last fall. That will likely remain the best we see until those two sync up again.
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